Michael Del Zotto eager for ‘second chance’

Young but talented Michael Del Zotto has big shoes to fill in Kimmo Timonen’s absense.

The Flyers need consistency on their defensive front. But their newest acquisition, Michael Del Zotto, has alternated between fantastic and lackluster seasons with the Rangers and Predators to start his career.

Back on the east coast with the Flyers, the 24-year-old knows this could be his last chance to break through as a reliable option on the blue line.

“Without making the playoffs, it’s been a long summer, something new for me,” Del Zotto said. “I took two weeks off and began training right away. Last season didn’t go as well as I would have liked or planned it to be. It’s been a humbling season. This offseason has been the most motivated I’ve ever been to get back and prove everyone wrong and that I can get back and be what I was before.”

Craig Berube projects that Del Zotto could be linemates with Luke Schenn, a player Del Zotto has some familiarity with.

“I know quite a bit about him watching him,” Del Zotto said. “He plays the game very, very hard and the right way. Again, I think we complement each other very well with two different styles of play.”